A fan called for the return of footnotes in comics, giving an example of a recent event in “New Avengers” that confused him and made him wish for some exposition. Bendis pointed out that the footnotes have been replaced by Wikipedia.
That's a joke, right?
Because I've got to say that Marvel's footnotes used to be a real selling tool. I can't count the number of times, as a kid, I'd see something like "To find out why Iron Man isn't wearing any pants, pick up the latest issue of Marvel Team-Up!" and run right out to search for the footnoted title. Seriously, I did that a lot. (Easily swayed, that was me as a kid. :)) Probably still would...if there were such footnotes to send me out looking!
2 comments:
Thre HAVE been a bit of a return of the Editor's footnote box as of late, but it's not a company-wide thing.
As I understand it, it depends on the writer and editor of said title.
But, as I said, I HAVE seen quite a few of them this past year.
Also, I, too, as a lad, would use the footnotes as a great resource for hunting down issues that I needed.
They made collecting (AND READING) comics much more enjoyable and comprehensive.
Sadly, now, when they DO appear, they also have a high snark content.
No, his comment ISN'T a joke, and more's the pity.
You hit the nail right on the head, I'd almost always try to find the issues referenced in editor's notes.
If one ever has to wonder why comics are selling to an ever-shrinking audience -- THAT is part of the reason, arrogant people like Bendis.
If I have to go to Wiki to understand a book, I've definitely understood one thing, that book comes off my pull list, at least for the current arc.
What's worse is, with the rampant decompression, there is no excuse for that attitude. When a book kicks around the basic idea of "are you a Skrull?" "No, are you?" for several issues, it's not like they can't put in the notes for fear of losing something material from their stories.
I have a question -- your children read comics, correct? Did they read the older books from the 70's and 80's with notes, and do they have an opinion on the idea of said notes being missing today?
It bothers people like us, maybe the newer readership (those allegedly brought in by Identity Crisis, Civil War, etc) really don't care, and have no issues with doing the work the writers and editors should be doing and going to wiki themselves?
Thanks for another great post!
Take it and run,
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